A Devonshire man who admitted stealing codfish has been released on a conditional discharge.

Magistrates’ Court heard Stephen Pitt, 60, entered The Shopping Centre, on Victoria Street in Hamilton, at around 11.39am on March 7 and was seen placing two packages of codfish, valued at $17.98, in his jacket.

He was stopped by store staff, but denied stealing the fish and refused to allow the staff to look inside his jacket. Police officers were subsequently called, and Pitt was arrested.

The court heard that Pitt has a long criminal history including theft, burglary and dishonesty, but has not been convicted of any offences since 2005. He said that since his last conviction he has been working odd jobs, but had been unable to obtain full-time employment.

Asked by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner why he had stolen the codfish, he said: “I was hungry.”

Mr Warner released Pitt on a 12-month conditional discharge, warning the defendant that if he appears before the courts again in the next year he could face time in prison.